Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News

Media Credit: SUU Public Safety

Students, faculty and staff received the first-ever campus e-mail alert issued by SUU Public Safety Thursday night.

The alert included a police mug shot of an unidentified bearded man, stated that he is "considered by Public Safety to be a threat" and asked that Public Safety be notified if he is seen on campus.

Public Safety Chief Rick Brown said the man has "caused a concern" on campus, with various individuals complaining he had bothered them.

Brown identified the man as Hugh Williams and said police just want to talk with him.

"He hasn't been violent; he hasn't crossed that line," Brown said.

If police wanted Williams on specific charges, they would search for him and make an arrest, he said.

Instead, they just want to make it clear to Williams where the campus boundaries are and what is appropriate on campus, Brown said.

In earlier situations when police wanted to raise awareness about an individual or situation, they posted signs around campus, he said.

Now, Public Safety has the capability to send an e-mail to everybody within the SUU system, Brown said.

"We will certainly use the system again, but hopefully not often," he said.

Brown said he is trying to incorporate more technology in campus security.

Some of the major future projects include electronic locks on all exterior doors, an emergency siren system, comprehensive video monitor coverage and digital signage, he said.

With electronic locks, records of everyone opening a locked door would be available to police for review, and with the push of a button police could lock down all buildings on campus, he said.

The police already routinely consult video surveillance, but Brown said he hopes to have camera coverage everywhere on campus.

"As soon as somebody sets foot on campus, I want a camera watching," he said.

Brown said although he wants to double the number of full-time officers from four to eight, security on campus is adequate.

"We don't mess around," he said.

Safety & Risk Manager Brent Johnson said he agrees that security on campus is "pretty much under control."

There aren't any "hot items" that aren't being addressed, he said.

"This is a safe campus for students to be on," Johnson said.

Brown said he routinely checks doors on campus and at campus housing during his night patrols.

Any problems encountered have been quickly fixed, he said.

Security at campus housing is a singular concern, and Director of Housing & Resident Life Neuman Duncan said there is a manual of security policies for housing.

If a lock, door or window is broken, Duncan said he immediately arranges for it to be repaired.

"We aren't working on anything now because it's all fixed," he said.

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